The Federal Government Has Approved Funding For California’s Self Determination Program

Last Thursday June 7th, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) announced that that federal government has approved federal Medicaid funding for California’s Self Determination Program. This program will allow people with disabilities who receive regional center services and their families far more control over the ways services are provided and who the individuals are who provide that support. This marks a positive milestone for people with disabilities throughout the state who have been wishing for greater levels of control over their own lives.

Based on a small pilot program that began twenty years ago in limited areas, the Self Determination Program emphasizes consumer choice. In their announcement DDS mapped the following principals:

• Freedom – to exercise the same rights as all citizens; to establish, with freely chosen supporters, family and friends, where they want to live, with whom they want to live, how their time will be occupied, and who supports them;

• Authority – to control a budget in order to purchase services and supports of their choosing;

• Support – including the ability to arrange resources and personnel, which will allow flexibility to live in the community of their choice;

• Responsibility – which includes the ability to take responsibility for making decisions in their own lives and accept a valued role in their community, and

• Confirmation – in making decisions in their own lives by designing and operating the system that they rely on.

The approval for Medicaid funding is a crucial step towards the realization of Self Determination, but not the final step. In their announcement DDS said, “the Department and the self-determination advisory workgroup must continue to focus on finalizing program components for implementation.” To this end they will publish a timeline with key dates by June 18th, 2018.

Updates about the Self Determination Program will be posted here.

If you would like to be notified of updates via email, click here to email DDS.

To learn more about how to take part in the program click here.

Christian McMahon, Communications Specialist, the Arc of California